Some schools have been kept open with a skeleton staff to provide support for the children of critical key workers as well as vulnerable children. Click here for full details. Schools and colleges continue to provide meals or vouchers that can be used at supermarkets across England to support children eligible for free school meals.

From 1 June, all primary schools, nurseries and private schools will begin to open to early years settings, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, operating reduced class sizes. This aims to ensure that the youngest children, and those preparing for the transition to secondary school, have maximum time with their teachers. The Government’s ambition is for all primary school children to return to school before the summer for a month if feasible, though this will be kept under review.

Secondary schools and further education colleges will soon begin some face to face contact with Year 10 and 12 pupils who have key exams next year, in support of their continued remote, home learning.

To support teachers and parents with remote learning, the Government has launched the Oak National Academy, a bank of high-quality, sequenced video lessons and resources. Vulnerable and disadvantaged young people across the country will receive free laptops and 4G routers to assist them with connecting online. The Government have also issued advice to parents in supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

All exams in May and June have been cancelled. The Chief Regulator of Ofqual has issued a letter to students outlining the steps that teachers will take to ensure children get the qualifications that they need so that they are not disadvantaged in their progress because of these unprecedented conditions.

Ofqual intends to standardise grades across schools and colleges, to make sure that students are not advantaged or disadvantaged because their schools or colleges are more generous or harsh than others. See full information.

The Department for Education has a dedicated helpline to answer questions about coronavirus related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline by calling 0800 046 8687 (8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday) or by emailing: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk.